Pacquiao payday: P4.4M per punch

By Dennis Gasgonia, ABS-CBNnews.com

MANILA, Philippines – Despite losing his World Boxing Organization welterweight championship belt to Timothy Bradley, there's still plenty of reasons to keep Filipino boxing icon Manny Pacquiao smiling in the days to come.

There is his much publicized renewal of faith, the stronger bond with his wife Jinkee, and of course the $26 million or P1.1 billion guaranteed earnings he’ll be getting for the Bradley fight.

Timothy Bradley Jr. (left) of the U.S. exchanges blows with the Philippines Manny Pacquiao during their WBO welterweight title fight at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada on Saturday (Sunday Manila). Pacquiao eventually lost his title via a split decision. REUTERS

Ring officials may have rewarded Bradley a split decision, but the punch statistics told a different story.

According to Compubox, Pacquiao landed 253 out of the 751 punches he threw against Bradley.

This means that every punch connected by Pacquiao was worth $102,766 or P4.4 million.

The stats also showed the Filipino boxer connecting 190 out of the 493 power punches he threw in the 12-round fight.

Pacquiao achieved the highest landing rate in Round 2 when he tagged Bradley 18 times out of his 37 attempts.

Disparity

Pacquiao’s earnings may be subject to taxation and other fees, but it is still higher than what he received in 2009 when he demolished Ricky Hatton in just two rounds.

In that fight, Pacquiao was guaranteed at least $12 million.

This meant that each of the 72 blows he unleashed against Hatton was worth $16,000 or P780,000.

Meanwhile, the Nevada State Athletic Commission (NSAC) said Bradley was guaranteed a $5 million purse for the Pacquiao fight.

This does not include his possible share in pay-per-view earnings.

Unlike Pacquiao, Bradley only managed to land a total of 159 punches out of 839 attempts.

He was most successful in Round 9, when he connected 26 out of his 78 attempts at Pacquiao.